Long Island Interior Design is Going Green

Long Island has always been forward thinking when it comes to interior design. In more recent years, one trend continues to grow in popularity: going “green.” This carbon friendly building concept has been widely accepted in mainstream projects, and will likely be one trend that will last a lifetime.

Though there are some skeptics, the carbon friendly trend is strong. It does not mean compromising on aesthetics, form or function. Now, you can have a naturally produced look without crushing Mother Nature.

Synthetic Polymer Based Cultured Stone Countertops

Polished granite and marble countertops have sat at the top of more people's wish lists over the decades than possibly any other product, but that is beginning to change. That particular change in Long Island interior design is coming in the form of synthetic, polymer-based, cultured-stone countertop products that completely mimic the look of natural polished stone.

It’s almost virtually impossible to tell them apart from the genuine article. Yes, they are green because they take less energy to produce, and they don't have to be shipped from far-flung regions around the globe. There is a catch, though, as some of the synthetic countertops can cost more than the real polished stone.

The reason they often cost more is because, like many other green products, they cost more to produce. Yet, in some ways they are a better product. For example, companies cut and join the countertops seamlessly, giving it a solid finish. They're also lighter, so they're a perfect fit in Long Island Interior design scenarios, where weight may be an issue. Plus, they're far more resistant to chipping, and scratches easily polish out.

Using High Tech Electronics to Cut Your Carbon Footprint

Many Long Island interior design specialists are now turning to high-tech electronics to help their clients cut their carbon footprint. They're making use of new appliances and products that perform just as well – if not better – than older technologies. It’s also doing the work at a fraction of the energy costs.

Fiber-optic and LED lighting are excellent examples of these technologies. They not only cut energy costs, but also boost performance levels. These lighting systems look better, work more efficiently and burn less electricity.

LED lighting replaces light bulbs with small crystals that only require 12 volts of electricity to light up, which is a fraction of what a traditional bulb uses. Low-voltage also means that they faster. They can be easily installed in places like under cabinets and along stairways, where an exposed standard 120-volt household wire would be a fire hazard.

Fiber optics takes it a step further by completely doing away with wiring altogether, so it's the perfect fit in Long Island interior design scenarios that involve water. Jacuzzis and indoor pools, for example, are now being fitted with fiber optics lighting that even allows for a switch-plate to be mounted directly in the water because there's no electricity involved.

Doing Away With Unregistered Exotic Hardwoods

There's a new level of awareness sweeping through Long Island landscaping circles regarding exotic hardwoods. Designers and clients are discovering that too many of the trees are being cut by loggers using long, outdated logging methods that leave rainforest land scarred and denuded.

It gets even worse than that, though, because as the price of exotic hardwoods has continued to shoot up due to their increased rarity. Reportedly, many companies are stealing the wood from the restricted land claimed by indigenous peoples of South America.

Long Island landscape designers and their clients now have the option of working with registered hardwoods that don't leave them compromising their environmental principles. These are exotic hardwoods that are harvested by loggers, who have joined in on an internationally recognized verification system. The system guarantees that any trees they cut are legally – with minimal impact on the nation or its people.

Ask a Long Island Interior Design Expert About Recyclables

Most people often overlook what will come of all the materials that go into building a home or commercial building. Far too many products end up in American landfills because the items aren't recyclable, but all that is changing.

It's changing fast because people are finally coming to realize just how many aspects of their home have a service life. Even though the home remains standing, in the upcoming decades, given that trends do change, and materials become worn and dated, much of what is in their home will be replaced.

So now, incorporating recyclable building products into building and remodeling projects is one of the latest trends to catch hold. But, this doesn't necessarily mean any type of change. This is because so many of the products that turn out to be fully recyclable have been in use all along.

It’s nearly impossible to forecast trends with interior design because they are just that – trends. What we do know, now, is that the materials and services you use will have an even bigger impression in the world we live. From using recycled materials to more natural options, you now know a few options for beautiful, sustainable living. Knowing the best products to use will lead to smaller footprint on the environment and an even bigger impression for our future.